Handle-attaching means for door latches



L. OTTINGER.

HANDLE ATTACHING MEANS FOR DOOR LATCHES. APPLICATION FILED sPT.3. 1920.RENEWED FEB. 23. 1922.

'lIIIIII II Application led September 3, 1920, Serial N o. 408,057.

LEON ofrTINeER, or NEW Yonx, N. Y.

HANDLE-ATTACHING MEANS Foa 'nooit LATcHEs.'

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, LEON OTTINGER, -a citizenlof the United States, and resident of the vcity of New York, in thecounty and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Handle- Attaching -Means for Door Latches, -of

` which the following is a description.

This invention relates to a vehicle door latch, and more particularlyconcerns certain improvements in the means formounting and attaching anoperating handle to theroll back, or equivalent actuating element of alatch mechanism such as that disand for which closed in my priorapplication for patent, filed February 5, 1920, Serial No.356,573,

this'application is a substitute. y A v In its generic aspect my'present 1mprovement contemplates the provision of simple and effectivemeans for securing an 'i absolutely tight and rigid connection of oneendof a shaft in a bore provided in an associated part so that said partand the shaft.

become for all practical purposes, substantially a unitarystructure.

In the application to which I have Just referred, I have illustrated ahandle shaft extending through a passage or lopening 1n the door whichis in alignment with the bore or opening through the roll back, andouter end of this handle shaft being provided with an enlarged portionabutting 'at one of its ends against an inturned flange on the inner endof a lbearing bushing which is threaded orotherwise fixed in the end ofthe through the door. The handle shaft atits other-end is split andadapted for engagement in the bore of the roll back, suitablel 40 meansbeing provided to expand the end of the shaft and thereby secure a tightbinding engagement of the same with the walls of the bore.

While this device has provento be very satisfactory in practical use,insofor as its `functional operation is concerned, it has been foundthat more or less frequently the doors are inaccurately made and are notof an exact predetermined thickness, or that the mortise which receivesthe latch-casing is notof exactly the required ydept-h. In suchinstances, when the split end of the handle shaft is secured in the rollback, the outer enlarged end of the shaft will be slightly spacedfrom-the shouldery or flange' on the Specification of Letters Patent.

' the shaft-tends to consequent lost motion `tllng of the shaft end inthe roll back.

passageA Patented Apr. 4, 1922. Renewed February 23, 1922./`Seria1 No.538,698.

bushing. It vwill ,be understood that I the length of to the 'splitportion is definitely predetermlned 1n accordance with the distancebetween the shoulder on the bushing and the the intermediate portion -ofthe handle shaft from the enlarged end thereof.

end of the roll back when thelatch is fitted l' to the door .in order toinsure a close fit of thel handle shaft against the shoulder. Therefore,when such inaccuracies in the de or structure, as I have above referredto, exist resulting end of the shaft from the shoulder, an accidentalinward pressure on the outer'end of force the split end thereoflongitudinally through the roll back, resultlng in a loosening of theconnection and which produces a rat- It is, therefore, the primaryobject and purpose of the present improvement to proin a spacing of theenlarged vide simple and effectivel means for preventing this 'possibleloosening andy rattling. Secondly,

in those cases where lthe opening 'throughthe door is not accuratelybored by the manufacturer, and, therefore, does not axlally allgn-withthe opening-in the roll back when the latch is applied, the bearingbushingabove referredjto cannot be used. In such cases vI propose toloosely engage an escutcheon plategupon the outer end of thehandleshaft, the bushing above referred to being dispensed with.vv Theinner end of the shaft is then fitted into the\bore ofthe roll back andtightly secured, and finally the 'escutcheon plate is moved inwardly onthe outer end of outer face of the door so as to conceal the shaftreceiving passage in the doors More particularly the presentvimprovement consists in the provision, at the inner end of theexpansible end portion of the sagethrough the door, and thus act as astop to positively limit the movement of the split end of the shaftthrough thebore of the roll the shaft and fitted to the back. Thisshoulder or abutment obviates any possible lateral oscillation of theshaft relative tothe roll back, and the roll back.

itself constitutes a bearing or support! the inner end of the handleshaft, thebush-` ing" in the one case, or the escutcheon plate in theother constituting a stop against lateral deflection by positivepressure against the outer end of the handle.

In an alternative embodiment of the 1nvention.' designed for applicationto the doors of motorvehicles having closed bodies, or to the door of atouring car I propose to' provide the handle shaft with a relativelylong expansible end portion so that the same projects beyond the end ofthe roll back, whichL end ofthe roll back, in turn, slightly projects aheld against the opposite end of theroll back.

With the above and other objects in view, .the present inventionconsists in the improved form, construction and relative arrangement oftheseveral parts as will be hereinafter more fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporatedin the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the vseveral views:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a part of a door having a latchapplied thereto, and

illustrating one embodiment of the present im rovement.

igure 2 is a'sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing another manner ofapplying or attaching the latch operating handle.

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of F1gure 3.

. Figure 5 is a view similar to' Figure 1 showing the a plication of theinvention to the door of a c osed vehicle body.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view through the door of a touringcar, and illustrating an alternative form of the device.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a further modification.

Figure 8 is a detail sectiontaken on the line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 isa fragmentary section showin a still further alternativeconstruction, an Figure 10 is av vsection taken on the line 10-10-ofFigure 9.

Referring-1n detail to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1and 2 thereof, 5 designates a fragment of a door. In the illustratedembodiment of the invention I have shown a door such as is used uponmotor vehicles having a rabbeted edge 6 to receive the flange 7 on alatch casing 8. This casing is set into a recess or mortlse in the innerface of the vdoor so thatthe inner side of the casing is flush with thedoor face. As

the subject-matter of this a plication does not involve any specificlatc mechanism, I

\have herein illustrated only the oscillating roll back 9 whichconstitutes the primary'actuating element of the laltch mechanism.

As shown, this roll back at its opposite ends is formed with thediametrically reduced portions 10 having bearing engagement in openingsprovided in the opposite side -plates of 'the casing 8. The roll back 9is also formedwith a rectangular longitudinally extending bore 11.

The door 5 is provided with a transverse 'i passage 12 theret rough openat its opposite ends, `and as shown in Figure 1 when the latch'isapplied, this passage is in coincidin 85 axial alignment with the bore11 of the rol back. To thei outer face of the door 5 a metal plate orsheathing 13 is applied and secured. A bushing 14 is threaded into theouter end of the passage 12, and has an outwardly projecting annularflan e 15 on its outer end bearing against the s eathing 13; This outerend of the bushing is further provided at diametrically opposite pointswith the notches or recesses 16 to receive the 95 lpoints of a suitablewrench, whereby the bushing may be readily inserted or removed. Thehandle shaft 17 is provided with an intermediate rectangular portion 18and an `outer cylindrical portion 19 having the hand 100 plate 20 at itsextremity. This cylindrical porton 19 of the handle shaft is adapted -tosnugly fit within the bushing 14. At the inner end of the rectangularportion 18 the handle shaft is again reduced in diameter and formed withthe lon 'tudinally split expansible section 21, whic is likewise ofrectangular cross sectional form and is of slightly lless dimensionsthan the bore 11 through the roll back, so that this split end of thehandle shaft may be easily fitted within said bore. It will be notedthat ,the split section 21 of the shaft is of slightly greaterlength-than the roll back, and projects for a slight distance beyond theinner end of the latter. The reduced expansible section 21 provides ashoulder 22 at the end of the rectangular portion 18 of the shaft, andthis shoulder -is adapted for tight abutting contact against the outerend of the roll back.

The 4split end section 21 of the shaft is\ formed with a threaded boreand a tapering seating face with which the expanding screw 23 coacts. L

For a more particular understanding of .125

the operation of this expansible means, reference may be had to a secondpending application, Serial No. 391,887, filed June 26, 1920, whereinsuch expansion means is fully illustrated and described. By threadingthe V forced into tight binding engagement with the wall of the bore 1lat each of the corners thereof, as will be seen froml referenceto Figure8 of the drawings. The split end of the shaft projects for about lbeyondthe end of the bore in the rollback, and when the shaftl end isexpanded, these split portions coacting with the end edges of the borein the rollback tend to draw the shaft longitudinally and therebytightly bindthe shoulder 22 against the opposite end of the rollback.This action lproduces a very rigid connection between the handle shaftand the rollback. Accordingly it is apparentthat the handle shaft isheldin absolutely'fxed relation to the roll back and against anypossibility of turning movement with re# spect thereto.- Likewise theshoulder 22 bearing tightly against the outer end of the roll backprecludes any possibility of a lateral oscillation ofthe handle shaftwith relation to the roll back.

Another advantage of this construction resides in the fact that thehandle shaft may be tightly fixed in the roll back, regardless ofinaccuracies in the thickness of the door.

Also, in some cases the door as manufactured 'the end of the roll back.The fact-that the outer'end of the shaft may project for an indefinitedistance from the outer face of the door, is immaterial. The handleshaft may be made in such length that it can be readily applied to doorsof different thicknesses,it being only necessary to know the length ofthe roll back 9, so that the split end portionof the handle shaft may bemade of thev proper length.

It will thus be seen 'that thepresent improvement provides an absolutelytight fit of the end of the handle andthe roll backat all times, whichcannot be loosened by. either an inward or outward movement of thehandle shaft. j

It occurs with more or less frequency that the opening l2 throughthe'door is not-accurately bored by the manufacturer, and, therefore,since this opening could not be axially aligned with the bore ofthe rollback when the latch is subsequently applied to the door, it is apparentthat'the handle shaft could not be applied. In such cases, thereafterthe latch is applied to the`inner face of the door with the bore of thebushing opposed to the inner end of the passage 12 through the door, anescutcheon plate 26 is loosely engaged upon the outer cylindricalportion 19 of the handle shaft, and said shaft is then inserted throughthe passage 12 and its split reduced end portion engaged in the bore ofthe roll back and expanded into tight binding engagement therewith inthe manner above described.

v The escutcheon plate 26, which is freely movable on the handle shaftlongitudinally thereof, is then brought into contact with the outer sideof the door and secured by means of the screws indicated'at 27. Theopening in the escutcheon plate provides a snugrotating fit for theshaft portion 19, and the escutcheon plate is formed at the outer sideof this openin with an annular` .rib 28 for ornamental e ect.

' In Figure 5 of the drawings I have illustrated a slightly modifiedform of the device as appliedto the door of a closed vehicle body. Inthis construction the reduced longitudinally split expansible endportion 21 of the handle shaft is relatively long and the bearingportion 10 on the inner end of the roll back is also lengthened so thatit will project sli htly beyond the face of the latch casing. Vhen thehandle'shaft is assembled in the roll back, as above explained, theexpansible portion 21 thereof projects beyond the bearing 10, and uponthis projecting end of the shaft an inner handle member 29 is looselyengaged, said member having a rectangular opening 30 through itsenlarged end portion to receive the split end of the shaft. This end ofthe handle member is disposed in abutting contact with the pro'- jectingend of the bearing 10. Whenthe screw 23 is threaded home, the portionsof the split end of the yshaft are expanded so as to thereby tightlysecure the main handle shaft and the inner handle member 29 to the rollback for oscillatory rotation as a unit therewith.

In Figure I have shown another alternative form of the invention asapplied to the door of the touring type of motor vehicle. The doors ofsuch vehicle are relatively thin, since they are not provided with theglass panes or panels. It is also to be noted that in Figures 1v, 3 and5 of the drawf ings the roll back is lpositioned in one corner of thelatch casing, and adjacent to its front edge. It is necessary to locatethe roll back atthis point since the door in this case is in the form ofa frame in which the window pane or glass is held. In touring cars,however, a solid door structureis provided and, as vindicated in Figure6, in such cases thel roll back may be located inwardly from the edge ofthe door and at thev center 4of the 7 It will also be observed thatllatch casing. in this instance the handle shaft 17 is relatively short,the intermediate' rectangular section 18 being eliminated and the splitsection 21 of the handle shaft extejlding from the end of thecylindrical section 19 there of. 'Ihe split section 21Il extends beyondthe inner end of the roll back, and the inner handle member 29 issecured thereon by'the expanding screw, as above explained, inconnection with Figure 5 of the drawings.

In Figure 7 I have illustrated still another embodiment, wherein thehandle shaft is provided at the juncture of its split end portion withthe intermediate rectangular portion 18 thereof with a beveled shoulder31 which seats against correspondingly beveled surfaces 32 at the outerend of the bore through the roll back 9. Thus it will be apparent thatwhen the end of the handle shaft is expanded in the roll back, thesurfaces of the beveled shoulden 31 will bind tightly against thecorresponding opposed beveled faces 32, and thereby prevent the possiblelateral displacement of the shaft with respect to the roll back.

In Figures 9 and 10 there is shown still another alternativeconstruction, wherein the portion 18'l of the handle shaft is of cy-`lindrical form, and the expansible end portion 21b `of the handle shaftis likewise cylindrical and islongitudinally split toppro- Vvide twoseparable sections. In this case the roll back 9 is provided with'acylindrical` bore 11 and the normal diameter 0f the split end 21" of thehandle shaft is of less diameter than this bore, so that it may bereadily-fitted therein. Thesplit end of the shaft is expanded by meansof the saine expansion device shown in connection with-the other figuresof the drawing, so that the two sections thereof are forced into tight vfrictional binding engagement with diamet- 'rically opposite sides of isapparent that the invention can a the bore 11.

From the foregoin description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction, manner of operation, andseveral advantages of the illustrated embodiments of the invention will`be readily understood. In each case it will be evident that the handleshaft cannot be forced longitudinally in an inward direction through thelbore of the roll back, since su'cli movement is positively prevented bymeans ofthe shoulder 22. n the other hand` the expanded end portion ofthe shaft coacting with the bore through the roll back prevents amovement of the shaft in the reverse or outward direction. Accordinglyit is impossible for this operating handle to become` loosened intheroll back, regardless of inaccuracies which may occur facture of thedoor.

I have herein referred to the device as being primaril. designed for usein connection with the lso be advantagepusly employed in connectionwithrefrigeratordoors, safes, house doors, and

llatable actuating element having a .pansible means in the manu-- oorsof 'motor vehicles, but

tion it may be found desirable or necessary' to resort to certainmechanical valterations in the construction to which I have herein'referred, and it is, therefore, to. be understood that the device may beexemplified in numerous other structural forms other than those to whichI have particularly referred. Accordingl the yprivilege is reserved ofadopting all such legitimate changes in the form, construction andrelative arran ement of the several parts as may 'be fair y embodiedwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

v I claim:

1. In combination with a door latch including aniv loscillatableactuating element having a lon itudinal bore, an operating handle forsaid latch having a shaft, provided with a longitudinally splitexpansible terminal portion of a length slightly exceeding the length ofthe bore of said actuating element through which said terminal portionof the shaft is adapted to be disposed, and means for expanding saidterminal portion of the handle shaft .to rigidly secure the same inbinding engagement with the walls of said bore and cause the portions ofsaid terminal extending beyond one end ofthe bore to'tightly bite orgrip against the end edges of the bore.

2. In combination with a door having a transverseopening therethrough,a' latch secured to said door and including an oscilbore opposed to oneend of said opening, and an operating handle for said latch includingashaft adapted to be inserted through said opening inthe door andprovided with expansible means to be fitted within the bore of saidactuating element, and a sto shoulder adapted to abut against one en ofsaid cured to said door and including an oscil- 4 latable actuatingelement having a bore opposed to fone end of said opening, andanoperating handle for said latch including a shaft adapted to be insertedthrough said opening in the adapted to be fitted within the bore of saidactuating opening in the door being of such diameter relative` to thebore in the actuating element as to admit ofthe insertion of the handleshaft through said opening and its connection to the actuating elementwhen the opening `is out of axial alignment with the bore in theactuatin element, said handle shaft having a shou der to abut againstone end of said element and limit the movedoor and provided withexelement, said ment of said shaft, and Ameans fixed to the door andclosing the other end of the opening therethrough.

4. In cgmbination with' a door having a transverse opening therethrough,a latch secured to said door, and including an oscillatable actuatingelement havin a rectangular bore opposed to one end o said opening andan operating handle for said latch including a shaft adapted to beinserted through said openingin the door, and provided with expansiblemeans to be fitted Within the bore of said actuating element and projectbeyond one end thereof, said handle shaft having a shoulder Y to abutagainst the opposite end Vof said element and limit the movement of theshaft to position the expansible means for operative connection to theactuating element, and means ixed to the opposite side of the doorsurrounding said shaft and closing the other end of said opening.

5. In combination with a door having atransverse opening therethrough, alatch se cured upon one side of said door and including an oscillatableactuating element', inner and outer operating handles for the latch, onevof said: handles extending through" the opening in the door, and acommon means forl rigidly connecting said handles to the actuatingelement.

6. In combination with a door having a transverse opening therethrough,a latch secured upon one side of said door, and in: cluding an.oscillatable actuating l.element having a bore opposed tol one end ofsaid opening, an outer operating handlehaving a shaft provided withconnecting means onone of its ends, saidshaft adapted for insertionthrough said opening to position `the connecting means through the bore,in the actuating element, an inner handle member, and adjustable meansto coact vwith said connecting means and simultaneously rig-` idlysecure both the inner and outer handles having a shaft mounted in saldguide mem-l to said actuating element.

7. In combination with a door havlng a transverse opening therethrough,a latch secured to one side of said door, and includ ing a latchactuating element having a borey opposed to one end of said openlng, anA

operating handle for the latch including a shaft adapted for insertionthrough the opening in the door and having expansible means to extendthrough the bore in said latch element, yand `project beyond the innerside of the door, an inner handle membertran'sverse openingtherethrough, a latch secured upon one side of said door and includingan oscillartable actuating element having a rectangular bore opposed toone end of said opening, andan operating handle for said latch includinga shaft adapted for insertion through said opening in the door andhaving expansible means to extendthrough the bore of the actuatingelement and a shoulder to abut against one end of said actuating elementand limit the movement of said handle to its operative position, saidexpansible means projecting beyond the other end of the actuatingelement, an inner handle member adapted to be fitted upon the projectedend of the expansible means, andmeans to coact with said expansiblemeans and simultaneously ,rigidly connect both the inner and outerhandles to the actuating element. .l

9. In combination With a door having a 4transverse opening therethrough,a latch secured upon one side of the door, and including a casinga latchactuating element journaled in the opposite side Walls of the casing foroscillatable rotation, l said element f having a rectangular boreopposed to one end ofthe opening through the door, a handlev for thelatch including a shaft adapted to be Ainserted through said opening,and.I

having expansible means at oney en-d to be lfitted Within the-rectangular bore of the ac- Y ber and supported thereby out of contactWith'the Wall of said ope-ning, said member permitting of theunobstructed longitudinal movement of the shaft through the opening inthe doo-r, said shaft having stop means to coact with the actuatingelement and limit such longitudinal movement of the shaft in onedirection, a'nd means for rigidly connecting the end of saidshaft to theactuating element against rotative or longitudinal movement in eitherdirection with respect thereto.

1l. The combination With a door or like structure, of a latch comprisinga casing secured to said door at one side thereof and having anoscillatable rollback, sa1 d rollback having one end exposed at saidsideof the door to which said latch is attached and concealed at theother side, said door being provided with a passage extending from` saidother side thereof to said concealed end of said rollback, said rollbackhaving an yopening extending axially therethrough, a handle shaft ofsmaller cross sectional area than said opening of said rollback insertedthrough said passage into the opening of said rollback and terminatingin proximity to the exposed end of said rollback, the end of said shaftin said rollback being split longitudinally and provided with a passageextending through said end of the shaft axially thereof, and taperingmeans adapted to be engaged-With the Walls of said passage, the axis ofsaid tapering means beingcoincident with the axis of said shaft, saidtapering means adapted to expand said split end of the shafttransversely into tight engagement with the walls of said passagethrough the rollback.

12. The combination with a door or like structure, of a latch comprisinga casing secured to said door at one side thereof and having anoscillatable rollback, said rollback having one endexposed at said sideof the l door to which said latch is attached and concealed at the otherside, said door being provided With a passage extending from said otherside thereof to the concealed end ofsaid rollback, said rollback havinglan opening extending axially therethrough, a handle shaft of smallercross sectional area than said openingv of vsaid rollback insertedthrough said passage into the opening of said rollback and terminatingin proximity to the exposed end of vsaid rollback, the end of saidshaft4 in said rollback being split' longitudinally and provided with apassage extending through said end of the shaft axially thereof, and taring means adapted to be engaged with t e Walls of said passage, theaxis of said tapering means being coincident with the axis of saidshaft, said tapering means adapted to expand said split end of the shafttransversely into tight engagement withv the Walls of said openingthrough the rollback, a bushing at the end of said assage at theopposite side of the door, a andle on the corresponding end of the shafthaving its bearing in fsaid bushing, the transverse expansion of saidshaft in said rollback adapted to prevent longitudinal variation of saidshaft and permit longitudinal adjustment upon contraction. of said`shaft.

13. The combination withv a door or like structure, of a latchcomprising a casing secured to said door at one side thereof and havingan oscillatable rollback, said rollback having one end exposed at saidside of the door to which said latch is attached and concealed at itsother end, said door being provided with a passage extending from thelatter end of the rollback, said rollback havsubstantially square incross section an smaller in cross sectional area than the openingthrough 'said rollback, said shaft terminatin in proximity to theexposed end of said rollback, the end of said shaft in said rollbackbein split longitudinally and in a lane exten ing through the axis ofsaid s aft and also being split in a plane at right angles to said firstsplit and extending through the axis of said shaft, said sha beinprovided with a passageV extendin axially through the s lit portionthereo and tapering means a apted to be engaged with the Walls .of saidpassage to expand said split end ofthe shaft transversely in fourdirections to tightly engage said split portions with therespectivewalls of said lopening through the rollback.

14. The combination with a door or like structure, of a latch includinga casing secured toy said door at one side thereof* and' having anoscillatable rollback, said rollback having oneend exposed at said sideof the door to which the latch is attached and concealed at its otherend, said door being provided W`ith a passa e extending from saidVlatter end of the rol ack, said rollback having an opening extendingaxially therethrough, said opening being substantially square in crosssection, a handle shaft inserted through said passage into the openingin said rollback, said handle shaft being substantially square in crosssection and, smaller 1n cross sectlonal area than said.

ing split in a plane at right angles to first split and at right anglesto the other 0pposite side Walls of said shaft and extendlng through theaxis of said shaft, said split portion of the shaft bein provided with apassa extending axia ly thereof, and taperin means adapted to be engagedwith the wal s of said passage and to expand said split end of the shafttransversely in four directions to tightly engage 'said split portionswith the respective corners of said passage through the rollback.

15. In combination with a door latch including an oscillatable actuatingelement having a lon 'tudinal bore, anoperating handle for sald latchhaving a shaft provided with a longitudinally s lit expansible terminalportion adapted to e engaged in the bore of said actuating element, saidshaft having ak shoulder at the inner end of its split terminal portion,and means for expanding said terminal portion of the shaftl whereby thesections of said terminal portions are caused to coact With theactuating element to urge the same longitudinally and tightly engage theshoulder of said shaft with one end of the actuating element and tofrictionally engage the Walls of said boreJ and thereby rigidly connectthe split terminal of the shaft to the actuating element.

16. In combination with a part having a continuous uninterrupted boreopen at its opposite ends, a shaft provided with a longitudinally splitexpansible terninal portion of a length exceeding the length of the boreof said pai-t through Which said terminal portion of the shaft isadapted to be disposed, and means for expanding said terminal portion ofthe shaft to rigidly secure the same in'binding engagement with theWalls of said bore and cause the portions of said shaft terminalextending beyond one end of the bore to tightly bite or girip againstthe end edges of said bore.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention,` I have si nedm name. LEONg OTT NGER.

